RHB Promotes ESG Investing Investing Amidst Global Challenges
Kuala Lumpur – RHB Investment Bank recently hosted the second instalment of its annual RHB Environment, Social and Governance Thematic Conference 2022 with a focus on addressing challenges of ESG investing amidst inflation and slow global growth, as well as helping investors navigate towards optimal risk-reward decisions.
The full day virtual conference created a valuable platform to share insights, solutions, and action plans in shaping a more sustainable investing environment.
The conference brought together over 150 local and foreign participants from across the ASEAN region, including fund managers and analysts from government-linked investment companies, pension funds, insurance, unit trust and private asset management companies.
Financiers and institutional investors from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand were present. Throughout the various sessions, panellists and participants discussed the shift in national and global ESG initiatives, driven by raging inflationary pressure, energy securities, new directives and regulations for foreign workers in Malaysia, as well as the thriving ASEAN Electric Vehicle (EV) market.
“The RHB ESG Conference 2022 featured a discussion panel comprising our regional experts from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Belgium to provide comprehensive views in nurturing investors’ understanding in addressing challenges of ESG investing amidst rising inflation and slow economic growth.
“It also explored tapping into ASEAN’s rapidly expanding green economy, while renewing our collective commitment towards addressing climate change within the set timeline.
“Through this thematic conference, we continue to facilitate fruitful discussions through the sharing of knowledge, experience, and insights to help investors uncover opportunities and ultimately, ensure enhanced rewards while minimising potential risks,” says Mohd Rashid Mohamad, Group Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of RHB Banking Group.
RHB Banking Group is a strong proponent of ESG across its business and operations Group-wide. Since 2018, RHB has been actively integrating sustainability and climate considerations into its business and decision-making process.
In January 2022, the Group kicked off the Group Climate Action Programme, which serves as a catalyst to enhance RHB’s expertise in managing climate related risk and exploring climate related opportunities. RHB had also recently announced the establishment of its Board Sustainability Committee (“BSC”), whose primary role is to assist the Board of Directors in driving the Group’s sustainability and climate-related agenda and providing oversight of material ESG matters across the Group.
RHB currently has a S&P Global ESG Score of 50/100, recording a +3point improvement as compared to the previous year.
It has also been remained a constituent in the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index with 4-Star rating, where RHB is in the top 25% of public listed companies in the FTSE Bursa EMAS Index. In addition to this, the Group has also maintained an AA rating in the MSCI ESG Ratings since September 2019.